Cheshire Best Kept Stations

John Hulme

Friends of Goostrey Station ….

Have you seen the new wall hanging in Goostrey village hall? It celebrates King Charles 111’s coronation year.  Friends of Goostrey Station are proud to have helped Jodrell Side WI in the production this unique work of art.

Last summer, professional artist (and vice chair of FoGS) Debbie Goldsmith worked with children at Goostrey Community Primary School and children visiting from Elizabethfontein School in South Africa to explore images of our village. The drawings inspired parts of the wall hanging and are currently displayed in a platform shelter at the station.

During the autumn and winter, 50 local ladies (including members of FoGS) plus a few primary school children used a variety of sewing techniques to represent roads, buildings, landmarks and organisations in Goostrey. The influence of the railway in our village is seen through the restored station building, station house (the home of the station master), a keystone from the original road bridge and FoGS logo.

In February, Chair of Crewe2Manchester Community Rail Partnership, Mark Barker, cut the ribbon at the unveiling event.  He explained that CRP exists to strengthen links between the railway and the community, and so it helped to finance the project. He added that he already knew from working with FoGS over many years that there was a strong community spirit in Goostrey, and this is clearly reflected in the wall hanging.

There’s more information about FoGS on our website friendsofgoostreystation.org  If you would like to join our enthusiastic team of volunteers as we work to improve our local station, please get in touch with FoGS chair, Craig Sidebotham on 29craimar@talktalk.net.  You can meet FoGS members during our working parties at Goostrey station between 10 and 1pm on the second Sunday of each month. The next will be on 10th March and 14th April.

Goostrey Art Studio has been on tour ….

Goostrey Art Studio has been on tour.  Professional artist Debbie Goldsmith declared that November was ‘super busy’. She was preparing for two events at the end of the month, one in Crewe and the other in Bury.

On Saturday 25th, crowds were wowed by Crewe’s first lantern parade which the Town Council had organised to celebrate the switching on of the Christmas lights.  During half term, Debbie led lantern making workshops at Crewe Heritage Centre. Participants made star lanterns and helped Debbie to create a huge showpiece owl lantern. On the day, the effect was magical.

Children and families in Bury made 200 pyramid lanterns from willow and paper during workshops that Debbie led in schools and in the community.  On Sunday 26th, over 500 people paraded through Bury and the spectacular creations lit up the town centre. The event included live music, street entertainment and a fire display staged by an organisation called Walk the Plank.

Friends of Goostrey Station are proud that Debbie is making such good use of her art studio in the station building.  As well as pursuing her own interest in painting and rug making, she gets so many other people involved in creative activities.

Please vote for our photo ….

Please vote for our photo!

Great news!

Two of our Cheshire Stations have been shortlisted in the Photo Competition: Capturing the essence of community rail in the 2024 Community Rail Awards.

  • Friends of Goostrey Station – Beavers Doing Their Best
  • Friends of Reddish South Station – Tai Chi Evening on the Station Platform

But to win they need your votes at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CRA2024

Please encourage your friends and family to support our Cheshire Stations by voting.

Voting is open until 29th January but note you can only vote for one of the stations.

Cheshire stations are shortlisted in 2024 Community Rail Awards ….

We are pleased to report that a number of Cheshire stations have been shortlisted in the 2024 Community Rail Awards …..

  • Small groups – Woodsmoor Station Friends – Woodsmoor Station Art Project
  • Small Projects Award (£500 or less)
    • Friends of Glazebrook Station – Liverpool Platform Planters
    • Friends of Romiley Station – Romiley Station Sign Highlighting Sensory Diversity
  • Best Community Engagement Project
    • Friends of Glazebrook Station – 150th Anniversary of Glazebrook Station Event
    • South East Manchester CRP and Brinnington Station Adopters – Brinnington Community Engagement
  • Photo Competition: Capturing the essence of community rail 
  • Most Enhanced Railway Spaces – Friends of Guide Bridge Station – Memorial Garden Project
  • It’s Your Station 
    • Silver – Friends of Reddish South Station
    • Platinum – Friends of Goostrey Station

Well done from the Cheshire Best Kept Stations Team to all those station groups that have been shortlisted.

 

News from the Friends of Goostrey Station ….

Christina Burgess from the Friends of Goostrey Station keeps us informed about the good work at Goostrey ….

The Friends of Goostrey Station are rightly proud of their achievements and it’s exciting when others approach us for help. The latest request came from a station adoption group in Lancashire.

 

 

Eight years ago, a group of volunteers adopted Silverdale station on the Furness Line, the railway that connects Barrow-in-Furness to Lancaster. Recently several Friends of Silverdale Station travelled by train (of course!) to Goostrey, seeking advice. Their members already tidy the platforms and plant flowerbeds, but now they are keen to restore the Victorian waiting room for community use.  

Our visitors were amazed at how much FoGS had achieved since 2012 – from displays of art and railway memorabilia and mapping changes in biodiversity to the rejuvenation of the station building as Goostrey Art Studio. They left with plenty of advice, and high hopes for the future of their group. 

 


Life continues to be busy for professional artist Debbie Goldsmith. During half term, she led a workshop at Crewe Heritage Centre. This was part of Operation Autumn, a series of family friendly arts and crafts events organised by Crewe Town Council.  The Council commissioned Debbie to create a huge lantern which would feature at the Christmas Lights switch-on on 25th November.  

In preparation, she built a frame at Goostrey Art Studio.  On the day, over 60 visitors helped transform it into an owl surrounded by stars. There was lots of positive feedback. One person said ‘Never done this before but I thoroughly enjoyed it’. Another added, ‘I’m gripped – must try this at home’. 

In November, Debbie had a selection of her own pantings and rugs on display at the Art Fringe Festival in Manchester. Over the course of four days, the Comme Ca Art Gallery at Hope Mill in Ancoats became a hub for artists working in different disciplines. Visitors were able to talk to the artists about their work and could commission an exclusive, bespoke piece. 

 

Friends of Goostrey Station are thrilled that Debbie is making such good use of her studio in the restored station building.